Bed clothes

ABSTRACT

A SET OF BED CLOTHES INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO INDIVIDUAL BED CLOTHES ELEMENT, ONE AT LEAST PARTLY OVERLYING THE OTHER, THE ELEMENTS HAVING MEANS PROVIDED THEREON DEFINING A COMPOSITE PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATION OF A PERSON, CHARACTER, ANIMAL, ARTICLE, OR SCENIC BACKGROUND, WITH THE COMPOSITE ILLUSTRATION CONSISTING OF THE PERSON, CHARACTER, ECT. APPEARING IN ONE CONDITION ON ONE OF THE BED IS VIEWED ELEMENTS AND APPEARING IN A DIFFERENT CONDITION ON THE OTHER OF THE ELEMENTS SO THAT WHEN THE BED IS VIEWED WITH ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OVERLAPING THE OTHEROF THE DEPICTED PERSON, CHARACTER, ECT. APPEARS TO BE IN ONE CONDITION, AND WHEN THE UPPERMOST OF THE ELEMENTS IS AT LEAST IN PART REMOVED OR FOLDED BACK FROM ITS OVERLYING RELATION TO THE OTHER OF THE ELEMENTS, THE PERSON, CHARACTER, ETC, IS VIEWED AS BEING IN THE SECOND CONDITION.

R. A. ISOLA ETAL Oct. 19, 197 1 BED CLOTHES Filed May 21, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVISNTQRS FIG. 1(a) Oct. 19, 1971 R. A. ISOLA ETAL 3,613,133

BED CLOTHES Filed May 21, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 86 FIG. :5 (a) INVENTORI.

Oct. 19, 1971 R. A. ISOLA ETAL BED CLOTHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1969 FIG: 4- (b) United States Patent O1 hoe 3,613,133 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 US. Cl. 3334 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A set of bed clothes including at least two individual bed clothes elements, one at least partly overlying the other; the elements having means provided thereon defining a composite pictorial illustration of a person, character, animal, article, or scenic background, with the composite illustration consisting of the person, character, etc. appearing in one condition on one of the bed clothes elements and appearing in a different condition on the other of the elements, so that when the bed is viewed with one of the elements overlying the other thereof, the depicted person, character, etc. appears to be in one condition, and when the uppermost of the elements is at least in part removed or folded back from its overlying relation to the other of the elements, the person, character, etc. is viewed as being in the second condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention, in general terms, relates to bed clothes, particularly sheets and pillow cases, but not excluding blankets, bedspreads and the like, which are commonly used for purposes of comfort and appearance on beds, couches and similar articles of furniture and areas of repose. More particularly, the present invention relates to bed clothes of the above described type which are illustrated or printed with means defining one or more persons, characters, articles, or the like that are depicted as resting, reclining or otherwise lying or positioned on the bed in substantially the same position as would normally be assumed by a person resting or reclining on the bed. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above described means defining the persons, characters, etc. is achieved via a composite pictorial illustration which results in the persons or characters being illustrated in a first condition on one bed clothes element and in another condition on an associated bed clothes element. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the change in the condition of the persons, characters, etc. depicted on the bed clothes may consist of a change in position, degree of attire, background, or the addition or removal of some article with which the person, character, etc. is associated in one of the depicted conditions.

The present invention is intended to find particularly useful, although certainly not exclusive, use on beds wherein the composite pictorial illustration consists of a person or character dressed in a first degree of attire on one bed clothes element, and the same person, character, etc. being dressed in a second degree of attire on the associated bed clothes element. By way of example, the first degree of attire may consist of street attire or clothes and the second degree of attire may consist of sleeping attire, such as pajamas, dressing gowns or the like. This arrangement is particularly adapted for application on childrens beds where a child might visualize the street attire on the one bed clothes element, which, for example, could consist of an upper bed sheet, and when said element or sheet is turned or folded back preparatory to the child entering the bed, the child would see the same person, character, etc. dressed in sleeping attire, thereby instilling in the child the propriety of dressing for bed in his own night clothes, or at least, rendering the child receptive to having himself dressed in such night clothes. Of course, there is a certain psychology in persuading a child to go to bed when the bed sheets depict a sleeping attired character or person with which the child may feel a sense of secure companionship and the satisfaction of being able to imitate the degree of attire worn by the person or character depicted on the bed.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bed pillow or pillows may be provided with pillow cases having a face or faces printed thereon which correspond to the person or character depicted on the associated bed sheets, with one side of the pillow case being printed with the head of the person or character as dressed or appearing in a condition corresponding to the condition of the person or character depicted on one bed clothes element, and the opposite or underside of the pillow case having the head of the person as appearing in a condition corresponding to the condition of the person or character as depicted on the associated bed clothes element. With this arrangement, the pillow may normally assume a position wherein the side of the pillow case, corresponding to the first degree of attire depicted on the upper element faces up, and when the upper element is turned or folded back exposing the lower element, the pillow may be inverted or turned bottom side up so that the head of the person or character on the lower side of the pillow case will correspond with the second degree of attire depicted on the lower element.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the first degree of attire may be printed in part on the upper side of the upper bed clothes element, and in part on the underside of the upper bed clothes element, so that when the upper element is partially folded back upon itself, the illustration of the person, character, etc. depicted upon the upper element will be completed, since the portion of the article depicted on the lower side of the upper element complements the portion printed on the upper side thereof. In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the person, article or character is depicted in the first degree of attire on both the upper and lower sides of the upper bed clothes element, so that the upper side of the upper element will function as above described to provide a composite pictorial illustration, and the depiction on the underside of the upper element, when the upper element is turned or folded toward the foot of the bed preparatory to a person reposing thereon, will give the illusion that the character, person, etc. is being undressed by having the first degree of attire removed therefrom and rendering the person or character dressed in the second degree of attire, as is depicted on the lower bed clothes element. In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, a portion of the anatomy or other part of the character depicted on one of the bed clothes element is omitted, which omitted portion will be supplied or supplemented when a person, particularly a child, is properly positioned in the bed, with the result that a child, upon getting into bed, will have the sensation of putting on a costume or otherwise assuming the identity of the person or character depicted therein. Of course, the principles of the present invention will find wide and varied use in applications other than childrens beds, and with bed clothes elements other than bed sheets, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in bed clothes and, more particularly, to bed clothes which are adapted to be printed in a manner such that they present a composite pictorial illustration.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes for use on beds, couches, and related suitable applications.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes which provide a composite pictorial illustration of a person, article, character, animal scenic background, or the like.

It is still a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes in the form of upper and lower bed sheets or the like, wherein the upper bed sheet has means thereon defining a character in a first degree of attire and the lower bed sheet has means thereon defining the same or a different character in a degree of attire different from the first degree thereof.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a set of bed clothes of the above character which includes a pillow covering or case having first and second sides, the first side of which has means thereon corresponding to the character defined on the upper bed sheet and the second side thereof has means corresponding to the character defined on the lower bed sheet.

It is still another related object of the present invention to provide upper and lower bed sheet-like bed clothes of the above described type wherein the uppermost sheet has a character, person, etc. printed on the upper side thereof, but which may be printed such that the character is at least in part depicted on the lower side thereof so that when the upper sheet is partially turned or folded back, the complete character will be seen in the first degree of attire.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a set of bed clothes of the above described type wherein the first and second degree of attire consist of street and sleeping attire.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a new and improved set of bed clothes wherein the composite pictorial illustration includes a scenic background in first and second conditions, such as, for example, a scenic background as would appear during the day and at night.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a set of bed clothes as above described wherein the composite pictorial illustration includes, at least in part, a cartoon character.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a set of bed clothes as above described wherein the character, person, article, etc. of the composite pictorial illustration is animated.

It is another related object of the present invention to provide upper and lower bed sheet-like bed clothes, as above described, wherein the character is printed, at least in part, in a first condition on the lower side of the upper bed sheetso that when the upper bed sheet is turned or folded toward the foot of the bed, it appears that the character is being undressed by having its first degree of attire removed and thereby rendering the character in the second degree of attire as is depicted on the lower bed sheet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes including a bedspread having a person, article, character, etc. depicted thereon and corresponding, at least in part, to the pictorial illustration provided on the associated bed clothes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a set of bed clothes of the above described type wherein the composite pictorial illustration includes at least in part an animal together with, or alternately, a life-like illustration of either a male or female person.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes having means thereon defining a costume or other apparel arranged in a life-like conformation, such that when a person reclines or reposes on the associated bed, he appears to be at least in part wearing the costume or apparel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved set of bed clothes including a sheet and pillow case, with the sheet being provided with means depicting a life-like character arranged in a position of repose on the bed, and the pillow case being provided with means defining the head of the article depicted on said sheet, whereby when the pillow case is operatively mounted upon the bed, the head of the character, as depicted upon the pillow case, is arranged in a life-like relation with respect to the body of the character depicted on the sheet.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention "will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1(a) is an elevated perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the bed clothes of the present invention, as arranged on a typical mattress, bed or the like;

FIG. 1(b) is an elevated perspective view of the bed clothes illustrated in FIG. 1(a), as shown with the uppermost bed clothes element partially folded or turned toward the foot of the bed and the associated pillow being inverted or turned bottom side up from the position shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIG. 2(a) is an elevated perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the bed clothes of the present invention;

FIG. 2(b) is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of a portion of the bed clothes illustrated in FIG-2(a), as shown in a partially expanded or unfolded configuration;

FIG. 3(a) is an elevated perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the bed clothes of the present invention;

FIG. 3(b) is an elevated perspective view of the bed clothes illustrated in FIG. 3(a), with the uppermost bed clothes element being turned or folded toward the foot of the associated bed;

FIG. 4(a) is an elevated perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the bed clothes of the present invention, and

FIG. 4(b) is an elevated perspective view of the bed clothes illustrated in FIG. 4(a), with the uppermost bed clothes element being turned or folded back toward the foot of the associated bed and the pillows being inverted or turned bottom side up from the positions shown in FIG. 4(a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For purposes of clarity of description, the following terms which are used throughout the specification and claims are defined as follows:

Printed-Any manner of providing means on a bed clothes element defining an article, person, character, animal, scene, etc. as appearing on or in the plane of the element, including weaving, sewing, embroidering or otherwise embellishing the article, person, character etc., defining means on the bed clothes, or by printing or stamping as by an engraved plate or lithograph, silk screen, or otherwise providing an impression on the bed clothes elements through the use of a dye transferred by pressure from a plate or the like.

Bed-Any article for one or more persons to sleep on or take rest in, or anything or place for sleeping, resting or reclining, including mattresses, couches, etc., and including a head section wherein the person sleeping, resting or the like usually positions his head, shoulders and other portions of the upper part of his anatomy, and a foot section wherein the person resting, reclining, etc.

usually positions his feet, legs or other portions of the lower part of his anatomy.

AnimatedAny means by which a person, character, animal, scene or other article appears to have moved, changed position or otherwise undergoes a realistic or life-like transition.

Degree of attire-Any amount or extent of dress, array or adornment of equipment, clothing, apparel or other garments which a person, animal, character or article may Wear or be normally covered or otherwise provided with or use.

Composite pictorial illustration-An illustration Wherein one or more persons, characters, animals, scenes, etc. appear in a first condition on one bed clothes element and the same or similar persons, characters, etc. appear in a second condition, either in a different position or in a different degree of attire or some other way different from the first condition, on an associated bed clothes element.

Bed clothes element-Any type and size of sheets, pillow cases, blankets, quilts, etc., either fitted or non-fitted for a particular bed, as defined above.

Bedspread-Any article of bed clothing which may be used to cover a bed and/or any associated bed clothes provided thereon.

PillowAnything used to support the head or other part of the anatomy of a person, article, character, etc. one reposing, reclining, sleeping or otherwise resting, such as a cushion or other soft, resilient fabric enclosure filled with feathers, down, hair, sponge rubber, or other sufficient material.

Sleeping attire-Any degree of attire commonly worn by a person, animal, character or the like when sleeping, resting, reclining or otherwise reposing, such as pajamas, night robes, dressing gowns or other costumes, and not excluding the entire absence of any attire whatsoever, as is frequently considered to be sleeping attire.

Daytime attire-Any attire commonly worn by a person, animal, character or the like with the exception of sleeping attire as defined above.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), a set of bed clothes, generally designated by the numeral 10, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown in operative association with a conventional bed, mattress or the like 12 and comprises a lower bed clothes element 14, an upper bed clothes element 16 and a pillow case 18 adapted to be surmounted on any suitable pillow or the like (not shown). The bed clothes elements 14 and 16 may consist of any of the items defined above, but preferably comprise lower and upper bed sheets of the type well known in the art. The lower element 14 may either be fitted or non-fitted with respect to the associated bed, mattress or the like 12, and for purposes of illustration, is shown as being of the non-fitted type and having a plurality of folded areas, generally designated 20, by which the marginal edges of the element 14 may be neatly disposed below the side edges of the mattress, bed or the like 12, Similarly, the upper bed clothes element 16 may be either fitted or non-fitted, but for the purposes of illustration, is shown as being non-fitted and having conventional folded areas 22 adjacent the foot of the bed 12 to operatively secure the foot end of the element 16 in place, as is a well known technique in making the bed 12. As is conventional, the pillow case 18 comprises upper and lower sides 24 and 26 which are adapted to be selectively juxtapositioned upon the bed 12 for purposes of supporting the head or other part of the anatomy of a person reclining or sleeping thereon.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the set of bed clothes is printed in a manner so as to depict a composite pictorial illustration, as defined above, which, as hereinafter described, consists of one or more persons, characters, animals, scenes or the like that appear in a first condition when the bed 12 is viewed with the upper bed clothes element 16 in the position shown in FIG. 1(a), but which appears in a second condition when the bed 12 is viewed with the upper bed clothes element 16 being turned or folded toward the foot of the bed 12, as is indicated in FIG. 1(b). By way of example, the composite pictorial illustration shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(1)) comprises a human-like character having generally male characteristics and designated by the numeral 28. The character 28 is shown on the upper bed clothes element 16 as being dressed in street attire consisting of a shirt 30, hat 32, and pant 34, and preferably, although not necessarily, the character 28 may be of normal life-like size so that when the element 16 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1(a), the character 28 generally assumes the position that a person would when resting, reclining or otherwise reposing upon the bed 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), the character 28 is printed on the lower bed clothes element 14 and shown as wearing an attire different from that shown on the upper bed clothes element 16. In particular, the character 28, as printed on the element 14, is shown as wearing a sleeping attire, which, by way of example, comprises a night cap 36, a night shirt and pants or pajama top and bottoms 38 and 40, respectively. It will be seen that the character 28 is printed on the lower bed clothes element 14 so as to assume the same general position as the character 28 is depicted on the upper bed clothes element 16. With this arrangement, when the upper bed clothes element 16 is turned or folded back from the position shown in FIG. 1(a) to the position shown in 1(b), the character 28 will appear to make a transition from wearing the street attire to wearing the sleeping attire.

The character 28, as depicted on the upper and lower bed clothes elements 16, 14, may be printed so as to be identical in size, shape, etc. on both the elements 16, 14, whereby when the upper element 16 is turned back, the only change which the character 28 undergoes from the depiction on the upper element 16 to the depiction on the lower element 14 is the change in attire; however, in accordance with one of the principles of the present invention, the character 28, as depicted upon the upper and lower elements 16, 14 may be animated to any desired extent, whereby a transition in relative positioning as well as a change in attire occurs or in lieu thereof. By way of example, it Will be seen in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) that the character 28 is animated to the extent that its left arm 42 appears to move from a position adjacent its body to a position extending outwardly therefrom. It will be apparent, of course, that the character 28 may be changed in virtually an unlimited number of additional ways so as to create an animated effect without departing from the principles of the present invention. It will also be noted that the principles of the present invention, as hereinabove set forth, are not limited to a pictorial illustration depicting a character of the type shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), since the depiction may consist of any article, character, animal or life-like being without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As previously mentioned, the pillow case 18 comprises upper and lower sides 24 and 26, respectively, which, in accordance with one of the principles of the present in vention, are adapted to be printed in a manner such that the upper side 24 corresponds generally to the depiction on the upper bed clothes element 16 and the lower side 26 thereof corresponds to the lower bed clothes element 14. By way of illustration, the pillow case 18 has the upper side 24 thereof printed with the head of the character 28 thereon, as the character 28 appears in its street attire on the upper element 16 so that when the pillow case 18 is operatively positioned at the head of the bed 12, as indicated by the arrows 44, the head of the character 28, as appearing on the upper side 24 of the pillow case 18, will overlie the head portion of the character 28 as depicted on the element 16. Preferably, the character head on the upper side 24 of the pillow case 18 is of the same general size, shape and orientation as the head of the character 28 on the element 16 so that when the pillow case 18 is operatively positioned, the depiction of the head on the pillow case 18 will cooperate with the body of the character 28 on the element 16 so that the head on the pillow case 18 appears to belong to the body of the character 28 as depicted upon the element 16. As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), the head of the character 28, as depicted on the upper side 24, may be provided with a hat 32' which may be identical to the hat 32 to further provide continuity between the head of the character 28 as depicted on the pillow case side section 24 and on the upper bed clothes element 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), the head of the character 28 is depicted upon the lower side section 26 of the pillow case 18 in substantially the same size, shape and location as it depicted on the upper side section 24, and as the head of the character 28 appears on the lower bed clothes element 14. The head of the character 28 on the lower side section 26 differs from the head on the upper side section 24 from the standpoint that it is provided with a night cap or the like 36' corresponding generally to the night cap 36 as depicted on the bed clothes element 14 and thereby corresponds with the attire of the character 28 as depicted on the element 14. If desired, the head of the character on the upper and lower side sections 24, 26 of the pillow case 18 may be animated to any desired degree relative to one another, as well as being provided with different attire, i.e., different caps 32' and 36', with such animation also, if desired, being made between the head on the upper pillow case side section 24 and the upper bed clothes element 16, and between the head on the lower pillow case side section 26 and the head on the lower bed clothes element 14. By way of example, such animation is illustrated herein by having the characters eyes fully opened on the upper section 24 and fully closed on the lower side section 26, thereby giving the illusion that the character is sleeping.

In use, the pillow case 18 will normally be juxtapositioned above the upper bed clothes element 16, whereby the character 28 will appear in its street attire. At such time as it is desired to prepare the bed 12 for acceptance of an occupant, the upper bed clothes element 16 is turned or folded back from the position shown in 1(a) to the position shown in FIG. 1(b), thereby exposing the character 28 as it would appear in its sleeping attire. Simultaneously, the pillow upon which the pillow case 18 is operatively mounted may be turned upside down or inverted such that the lower side section 26 thereof faces upward and will thereby correspond with the depiction of the character 28 on the lower bed clothes element 14.

In accordance with another principle of the present invention, the bed 12, together with the set of bed clothes 10, may be operatively associated with a bedspread which is illustrated in FIGS. 2(a) and 2( b) and generally designated by the numeral 50. The bedspread 50, by way of example, may consist of a main body section 52 covering the major portion of the bed 12 and have downwardly extending marginal side portions, generally designated 54 which are disposed adjacent the side edges of the bed 12. The bedspread 50 also may consist of a head section '56 integrally connected to the section 52 and adapted to overlie an associated pillow (not shown) provided on the bed, with an intermediate section 58 being provided interjacent the sections 56 and 52 and adapted to be tucked or otherwise folded beneath the portion of the pillow confronting the foot of the bed 12, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(1)) and is well known in the art. In accordance with the present invention, the bedspread 50 may be printed with a character 28' preferably corresponding in general shape, size and orientation of the character 28, with the torso, arms, and legs of the character 28 being oriented on the main body section 52 of the bedspread 50 and head of the character being located or oriented upon the section 56 so that the character 28' appears to be resting or otherwise reposing upon the bed 12. Preferably, the character 28 is printed on the bedspread 50 in a manner such that an elongated neck 60 extends between its head and shoulders, which elongated neck 60 is generally oriented on the intermediate section 58 of the bedspread 50 which is designed to be partially tucked under the pillow of the bed. With this arrangement, when the bedspread 50 is operatively mounted upon the pillow in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2(a), with the section 58 tucked beneath the bed pillow, the character 28 appears to have a neck of normal size and shape so that its head appears to be in normal relation to its body.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3( b) illustrate still additional features of the present invention wherein a bed 70 is shown as being provided with a set of bed clothes, generally designated 72, comprising upper and lower bed clothes elements 74 and 76 and an associated pillow case 78 operatively mounted on a conventional pillow or the like (not shown). The bed clothes 72 are printed so as to depict a composite pictorial illustration, which, by way of example, is shown as comprising a human-like character 80 having a body 82, legs 84, arms 86 and a head 88. The character 80 is illustrated as being of a generally likelike proportion, and by way of example, is depicted as having feminine characteristics, as opposed to the male characteristics of the character 28 illustrated in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b).

The composite pictorial illustration depicted by the bed clothes 72 is achieved in essentially the same manner as was described in connection with FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) in that the character 80 is shown in one degree of attire on the upper bed clothes element 74 and in a second degree of attire on the lower bed element 76. More particularly, the character 80 is depicted as having or wearing a dress 90, i.e., street attire, on the upper bed clothes element 74, as seen in FIG. 3(a), and depicted as having or wearing any suitable sleeping attire 92 as depicted on the lower bed clothes element 76, with the result that when the upper bed clothes element 74 is folded back from the position shown in FIG. 3(a) to the position shown in FIG. 3(b), the character 80 appears to undergo a transition from wearing street attire to wearing sleeping attire, in much the same manner as was described above. The pillow case 78 of the bed clothes 72 may also be and preferably is printed on the upper and lower sides therof in much the same manner as the aforedescribed pillow case 18, and in a manner corresponding to the degree of attire with which the character 80 is depicted on the upper bed clothes element 74 and lower bed clothes element 76. That is, one side of the pillow case, designated 94, may be printed with a head having a cap or the like 96 to correspond with the street attire of the character 80, while the opposite or underside 98 of the pillow case 78 may be printed with the head of the character 80 having, for example, one eye closed, so as to correspond with the sleeping attire with which the character 80 is depicted on the lower bed clothes element 76, the closed eyes also illustrating the fact that the character 80 may be animated as between the upper and lower bed clothes elements 74 and 76, as explained above.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper bed clothes element 74, together with being printed with the character 80 on the upper side thereof, is also printed with a portion of the character 80 on the underside of the end thereof disposed adjacent the head of the bed 70, the printing of the portion of the character 80 on the underside of the upper bed clothes element 74 being generally inverted so when the bed clothes element 74 is folded downwardly from the head of the bed in the position shown in FIG. 3(a), the printed portion of the character 80 will be substantially aligned with and correspond to a portion of the character 80 which is depicted or printed on the upper side of the element 74, with the result that a single coherent character 80 is illustrated; More spe cifically, the portion of the character 80 generally delineated by the bracket 99 would be printed on the underside of the bed clothes element 74 so that when the end of the element 74 adjacent the head of the bed 70 is folded back, the printed portion 99 of the character 80 will complement a portion of the character 80 printed on the upper side of the element 74 and delineated by the bracket 100 in FIG. 3(a). With this arrangement, the head end of the upper bed clothes element 74 may be partially folded back without covering or otherwise obscuring the depiction of the character 80 so as to permit the bed 70 to normally have the upper element 74 turned or folded back without adversely affecting the appearance of the character 80 as it is depicted upon the upper bed clothes element 74.

In accordance with still another principle of the present invention, the underside of the bed clothes element 74 may be printed in a manner such that as the element 74 is turned or folded back from the position shown in FIG. 3(a) to the position shown in FIG. 3(1)) preparatory to a person entering between the elements 74, 76, the character 80 will appear to become undressed or have its street attire removed, thereby leaving the character 80 in its sleeping attire, as is depicted on the lower bed clothes element 76. This sensation of undressing or otherwise changing the attire of the character 80 is achieved by printing the street attire of the character 80 on the underside of the upper bed clothes element 74 in much the same manner as the attire, such as the dress 90, is printed on the upper side of the element 74, with the exception that only the attire itself is printed On the lower side of the element 74, as is illustrated in FIG. 3(b) and generally designated by the numeral 102. Thus, the bed clothes 72 provide a composite pictorial illustration wherein the character 80 is shown in one degree of attire on the upper bed clothes element 74 and in a second degree of attire on the bed clothes element 76, and the person preparing the bed 70 for sleeping by folding back the upper element 74 toward the foot of the bed 70 will, as he exposes the underside of the upper element 74, create the illusion that he is actually undressing or otherwise changing the degree of attire of the character 80 that is depicted on the upper element 74 to that depicted on the lower element 76.

It will be apparent, of course, that the principles of the present invention, as described above, are not limited to the use of a character such as the character 80, since the composite pictorial illustration may consist of any article, animal, scene or human being which may be more or less animated than that shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3( b). Also, the present invention is not intended to be limited to a set of bed clothes which creates the impression of merely undressing the character from the attire shown on the upper bed clothes element 74 to the attire shown in the lower element 76, since the present invention contemplates the addition of attire, or other articles or making any other related changes in making the transition from the depiction on the upper element 74 to the lower one thereof, as will be apparent.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate still additional features of the present invention wherein a set of bed clothes, generally designated 110, are shown in operative association with a bed 112 which, by way of example, may be of the type commonly known as a double bed or other suitable area of repose capable of having two or more persons sleep or rest thereon. The bed clothes 110 are shown as comprising a lower bed clothes element 114 and upper bed clothes element 116 and a pair of pillow cases 118 and 120 which are adapted to be surmounted on suitable pillows (not shown). The bed clothes 110 are printed in a maner so as to define a composite pictorial illustration, as above described, and illustrates the principle that the upper and lower bed clothes elements 116 and 114 may be printed with more than one article, person, character or the like, depending upon the relative size of the subject matter being printed and, of course, the size of the bed with which bed clothes are to be associated. By way of example, the bed clothes are shown as being printed with a human-like character 122 which is shown holding an animal 124, either real or imitation. A second character 126 is also depicted as wearing an attire that might be worn by an interplanetary traveler or spaceman. The composite pictorial illustration provided by the bed clothes 110 is achieved in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b); that is, by printing the characters 122-126 in one degree of attire on the lower bed clothes element 114 and in a second degree of attire on the underside of the upper end of the upper bed clothes element 116. In particular, the characters 122, 124 and 126 are provided with a first degree of attire consisting of a packet 128, playsuit or the like and space suit 132, respectively, on the underside of the upper bed clothes element 116 which is disposed in a partially folded back configuration in FIG. 4(a). The same characters 122, 124 and 126 are shown as wearing a second degree of attire consisting of sleeping attire 134, 136 and 138, respectively, on the lower bed clothes element 114, with the underside of the upper bed clothes element 116 also being printed with the street attire 128, 130 and 132 so that when the upper bed clothes element 116 is turned or folded toward the foot of the bed 112, the illusion is created that the characters 122-126 are being undressed, as above described. The pillow cases 118 and 120 are also printed on the upper and lower sides thereof with the heads of the characters 122126 corresponding to the degree of attire on the upper and lower bed clothes elements 116, 114, respectively, with the exception that the underside of the pillow case 118 is printed on the lower side thereof with a space helmet or the like without the head of the character 126 therein, for purposes later to be described, with the result that the pillow cases 118, 120 are adapted to be inverted or turned upside down to correspond with the particular attire on the upper and lower bed clothes elements 116 and 114.

In accordance with the present invention, the composite pictorial illustration provided by the bed clothes 110 may be printed so as to create a change in background or scenery, such as, for example, a change between day and night, summer and winter, or any other suitable change. For example, the pillow cases 118, 120 may be printed with a planet or the like 142 and a sun 144 and the sides thereof corresponding to the street attire of the characters 122 and 124. On the reverse or underside of the pillow cases 118 and 120, the heads of the characters 122, 124 and 126 may be shown in association with a scene or background corresponding to the sleeping attire depicted on the lower bed clothes element 114, such as, for example, stars 146 or a moon 148, so as to indicate a scenic transition between the upper and lower sides of the pillow cases 118 and 120. It will be noted that the background on the lower bed clothes element 114 is depicted as a night scene, indicated by the stars 150 and moon 1S2 corresponding to the sleeping attire of the characters 122-124. Thus, a background or scenic transition can be achieved by either or both the bed clothes elements 114, 116 or the pillow cases 118, 120, depending upon the particular visual effect desired.

In accordance with a further principle of the present invention, a portion of the character 126 may be omitted on the underside of the pillow case 118 or on the lower bed clothes element 114 for the purposes of adapting such bed clothes as a sort of costume with which a person may associate himself. More particularly, it will be seen, by way of example, that the head of the character 126 is omitted in the depiction of the helmet 140 on the underside of the pillow case 118 so that when a person reposes on the bed 112, his head may be juxtapositioned within the area defined by the helmet 140, with the result that the person will have the sensation that he is actually wearing certain attire, to wit: a space suit of the depicted char- 1 1 acter 126. Thus, the principles of the present invention permit a character or other article or object to make an attire transition or change between the upper bed clothes element 116 and the lower bed clothes element 114, while at the same time, providing a type of costume or other object with which a person reposing in the bed senses he is wearing or is otherwise associated.

It will be seen from the above description that the present invention provides a novel bed clothes construction and design that will find wide and universal application by virtue of the fact that any combination of persons, articles, characters, animals, scenes or backgrounds may be associated and undergo any desired transition between associated bed clothes elements so as to create virtually any type of composite pictorial illustration. It will be noted, of course, that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular size, shape or relative position of the person, article, character, etc., depicted on any specific type of bed clothes, since the size of the article depicted may range from a relatively small doll-like character to a life-size human form. For example, the article depicted may be generally centrally located on the bed clothes element whereby the person reposing on the bed overlies or rests on top of the article, or alternatively, the article may be printed on the bed clothes elements such that the same is oriented adjacent one side of the bed so that a person reposing on the bed appears to be reposing or sleeping along side of the article. Nor is the present invention intended to be limited to any degree or extent of change between the depicted characters, etc., on associated bed clothes elements, since the degree of change may range anywhere from a relatively small background detail, such as a change in color of leaves, or attire, for example, to a relatively major change consisting of the addition or omission of a complete article or character. Moreover, the present invention is not intended to be in any way limited to the manner in which persons, characters, etc., are printed on the bed clothes since the illustrated persons, characters or the like may be depicted by means of any suitable reproduction techniques, ranging from common well known printing techniques to the somewhat newer techniques of reproducing photographs on the bed clothes elements, and the printing may be achieved by merely depicting the persons, characters or the like by a single color contrasting to the color of the bed clothes, or by a multiplicity of colors, including colors that would be visible or glow in the dark, as would be needed to depict a life-like scene or background.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments illustrated herein are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A set of bed clothes adapted to be placed upon a bed and including at least two individual, relatively separable bed clothes elements,

one at least partly overlying the other and adapted to move relative thereto,

the elements depicting a composite pictorial illustration of at least one object taken from the group of persons, characters, animals, articles, and scenic backgrounds, with the objects being depicted in one condition on one of the bed clothes elements and being depicted in a different condition on the other of the elements, said object being substantially pictorially aligned on said elements so that when the bed is viewed with one of the elements overlying the other thereof, said object appears to be in said one condition, and when the uppermost of the elements is at least in part removed or folded back from its overlying relation to the other of the elements, said object appears to be in said second condition.

2. A set of bed clothes as set forth in claim 1 wherein the composite pictorial illustration comprises an object having at least a head, torso and legs.

3. A set of bed clothes as set forth in claim 2 wherein the object is of a human-like character.

4. In a set of relatively separable bed clothes adapted to be placed upon a bed having a pillow,

a first bed clothes element substantially covering the bed,

means on said element depicting an object taken from the group of persons, characters, animals, or other animate or inanimate representations or reproductions thereof, with the object including at least a head, torso, legs and arms and arranged on the bed in a position of repose,

a second bed clothes element adapted for operative association with the pillow, and

means on said second element defining an object having the general appearance of the head of the object depicted on said first element,

said objects on said first and second bed clothes elements being substantially pictorially aligned with one another,

whereby when the pillow is operatively disposed on said bed, the head appearing object on said second element is located in substantial overlying .frelation to said head of said object on said first element and the composite of the objects on the two elements takes on the appearance of a complete person, character, animal, or other animate or inanimate representation or reproduction thereof reposing 0n the bed.

5. In combination ina set of relatively separable bed clothes elements adapted to be placed upon a bed having a pillow thereon, 3

a first bed clothes element substantially covering the bed,

said first element having means thereon depicting an object in a position of repose upon the bed with at least a portion of the object being located adjacent the pillow,

a second bed clothes element adapted to be removably mounted on said first element and adapted for reception of the pillow,

said second bed clothes element having means thereon depicting a portion of the object depicted on said first bed clothes element, with the objects on said first and second elements being pictorially aligned when the pillow is operatively placed on the bed, whereby to define a composite pictorial illustration of the object.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PAUL R. GILLIAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

